Explanations
7
Explanations
Recent events Present perfect simple
The present perfect simple is used to describe recent events.
I've left my shopping bag behind.
The event happened in the past, but there is a result in the present.
I've broken my arm, as you can see.
No definite time is given for the event, but to emphasise the idea of recentness
we can use just.
I've just broken my watch.
We can also describe events that have not happened.
/ haven't found her phone number yet.
Indefinite events • Present perfect simple
No definite time is given for the events. They are a series of actions in our
life up to now.
I've been to France three times.
After It's/This is the first/second time we use the present perfect. It also refers
to our life up to now.
This is the first time I have eaten Japanese food.
• Compared with past simple
Events described using the past simple have definite times.
/ went to France last year.
I ate at a Japanese restaurant on Saturday.
If we think of a definite place for an event, this may suggest a definite time.
/ left my shopping bag on the train.
Extended or • Present perfect simple
repeated events The present perfect simple describes a state which lasts up to the present.
I've lived in this house for five years.
The present perfect simple can describe a habitual action in a period of time
up to the present.

long.
GRAMMAR 2 PRESENT PERFECT
Choose a suitable description for each picture.
a)
b)
l) Did you enjoy the match?
2) Have you enjoyed the match?
1) What have you been doing?
2) What have you done?
C)
d)
e)
f)
1) He was married six times.
2) He has been married six times.
1) How long have you been here?
2) How long are you here for?
1) I've been waiting for two hours.
2) I waited for two hours.
1) Where did Wendy go?
2) Where has Wendy been?
9
2. Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence.
a) Did you see/Have you seen my bag anywhere? I can't find it.
b) Larry is writing/has been writing/has written his novel for the last two years.
c) From the minute he got up this morning Gary asked/has asked/has been asking
silly questions!
d) Have you given/Did you give Helen my message when you have seen/saw her?
e) Sorry, could you say that again? I didn't listen/haven't listened/haven't been
listening to you.

.j) I can't remember how long/when I've had this watch.
FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE
10
GRAMMAR 2 PRESENT PERFECT
5 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use
between two and five words, including the word given.
a) Steve started learning the violin a month ago.
learning
Steve has been learning the violin for a month.
b) I haven't been to an Indian restaurant for ages.
since
It's ages an Indian restaurant.
c) When she heard the results, Mary began to feel more confident.
become
Since hearing the results more
confident.
d) The last time Nancy came here was in 1986.
since
Nancy hasn't 1986.
e) This is my first visit to Japan.
time
This is the first to Japan.
f) How long have Helen and Robert been married?
get
When married?
g) Jack bought those trousers last month, and has been wearing them ever
since.
for
Jack has a month.

month, and since then (4) (discover) larger amounts
under the seabed nearby. Last year the government (5)
(lend) over £50,000,000 to BOC, and (6) (give)
permission for the company to build an oil refinery and other facilities in South
Wales.
The reaction of local people to today's news (7)
(be) mixed so far. Local MPs (8) (already welcome) the
news, pointing out that the oil industry will bring badly needed jobs to the
area. But local residents are worried about the danger of pollution. 'Nobody
(9) (ask) us yet what we want,' said Ann Griffiths,
leader of the Keep Out The Oil Campaign. 'Look what
(10) (happen) when they (11)
(find) oil in Scotland in the 1960s. The oil companies
(12) (get) rich, not the local people. BOC
(13) (not tell) us the truth about what this is going to
mean for our people.' A BOC spokesman later (14)
(refuse) to comment. Meanwhile local campaigners
(15) (ask) the government to hold an inquiry.
12
GRAMMAR 2 PRESENT PERFECT
8 Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word
which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a word which
should not be there, write the word in the space.
A letter from the builders
Dear Mrs Sangster,
Just a quick note to explain what we have been done
so far this month. The work on the kitchen has gone
well so far, although we haven't already finished
knocking down the outside wall yet. So I wrote
to you last week and have explained that two of